WHy should NGC take over Mason? Build Bissett Cr insteadMason is already in bed with Nouveau Monde...why should Northern crawl under those sheets?
As per NGC NR
The plant would be one of the largest in the world and would convert graphite concentrate from the Company's mines, as well as other producers, into anode material to supply existing and planned lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants throughout North America.
Hugues Jacquemin, Northern's CEO commented that, "Downstream processing is capital and energy intensive. It makes little sense for every graphite mine to develop its own capability. Northern intends to build a large-scale center of excellence based on our own production, but the participation of other graphite producers will be welcomed." He added, "The supply picture for natural graphite is marked by a significant dependence on China for both graphite mine production and downstream processing. Our proposed plant would solve both issues on an industry-wide scale by providing OEMs and battery makers with a transparent, ESG compliant supply of anode material to meet current and projected demand."
Stick to toll processing if Mason ever gets into production. NGC has 1st mover advantage here production and customers and technology side as per NR with Graphex
Northern would provide security of raw mineral supply (graphite concentrate) and it is contemplated that Graphex would license and/or contribute its technology, plans and expertise for building and operating the plant(s
Graphex has a decade-long history of processing mine concentrates and produces 10,000 tpy of high yield, high quality battery anode material. Graphex is the only current commercial downstream processor of natural graphite into battery anode material that intends to develop an anode material processing plant in North America.
Duckies lining up nicely for Northern, Mason is charting a different course
JMHO